Expression-indications for perforated note-sheets for player-pianos and the like.



F. HOPKINS.

EXPRESSION INDICATIONS FOR PERFORATED NOTE SHEETS FOR PLAYER PIANOS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I8. 1916.

1,226,332. I Patented May15,1917.

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11 I I I I rass MJ I m t wkkpm HIL' NnHRIS PETERS 1.0.. rnowuruau WASMINGmN. n cy FREDERICK HOPKINS, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

EXPRESSION-INDICATIONS FOR PERFORATED NOTE-SHEETS FOR PLAYER-PIANOS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented May 15, 1917.

Application filed September 18, 1916. Serial No. 120,876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK Horxms, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Expression-Indica tions for Perforated Note-Sheets for Player- Pianos and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in the manner of indicating on note sheets or the like, as for instance the well known perforated note sheets for automatic or partially automatic musical instruments, the expression which the operator of such instruments is to observe in the performance of the musical compositions represented by such note sheets, together with any other directions or information appropriate or incidental to the performance of the music 0 the operation of the sheets.

The expression indications on such note sheets have heretofore consisted P incipally of a dotted or solid line drawn or otherwise superimposed upon the note sheet and traversing it throughout the perforated portion, and indicating dynamic degrees and changes,

that is, the degrees and changes of degree of V loudness and softness to be observed in performance, by means of the'position of such line on the sheet, together with directions as to tempo, dynamics and other details of interpretation in the form of words, figures or symbols, stamped or otherwise superimposed upon such sheet as nearly as practicable at the appropriate locations.

This system of expression indication by means of superimposed lines and symbols, as heretofore employed, has several disadvantages. Such lines and symbols are usually superimposed upon the note sheets not as part of the operation of perforating in the perforating machine, or simultaneously with such operation, but by a subsequent, separate operation or series of operations which add considerably to the cost of manufacture. Efforts to reduce the cost of expression marking result frequently in excessive simplification of line and symbols and in careless work. Few music rolls bear as many expression indications as are deemed necessary to manual performance, or even as many as would conduc to an intelligent interpretation of the music on the automatic or partially automatic player, and such expression marks as do appear on the note sheet are seldom in exactly the correct locations. The very application of inked, stamped or printed lines and symbols renders necessary a distinct application to the surface of each roll, with resultant inaccuracies, and precludes or renders very difficult the simultaneous marking of a group of rolls, as for instance of a whole unseparated cutting of rolls as they pass through the perforating machine. It has long been recognized as desirable that a system be devised by which the expression indications shall be added to the note sheets as part of the original single operation of perforating, and in as full and complete detail as may be wished, and with absolute and undeviating accuracy as to position and location on the note sheet.

The object of this invention is to provide expression indications for perforated note sheets which shall be of absolute and undeviating accuracy as to their position and location on the note sheets, which shall also be as full, complete and comprehensive as may be desired and as the music may demand, and which shall also be capable of being applied to the note sheets as part of the first operation of perforation on the perforating machine, involving no subsequent operation whatever.

In effecting the object of this invention it is to be considered that expression indications, whether of lines or symbols, perform no mechanical function in the operation of the playing machine, but are intended only to be observed and followed by the eye of the performer, who translates them from their arbitrary symbolism into comprehensible directions, and carries out those directions in performance. It is to be considered that the eye can as easily follow a dynamic or expression line formed by a succession of perforations as a line formed by a succession of printed dots or a solid drawn or printed line, and can as perfectly recognize a symbol consisting of a perforation or a group of perforations as a letter, abbreviation or other symbol of the character now employed on note sheets when printed or stamped upon the sheet, especially if the perforations forming such expression line or symbol are of a different size or shape from the perforations which perform a mechanical function in the operation of the playing machine.

It is to be considered also that While a reason exists for employing upon sheet music the musical symbols presumably familiar to those who use such sheet music for manual performance, no such reason exists in the case of note sheets for partially automatic musical instruments, because the users of such note sheets are not at first commonly familiar with musical symbols, and are obliged to learn arbitrarily the meanings of such symbols as appear on the note sheets. It is therefore more rational to employ upon note sheets such symbols of interpretation as are most conveniently applied to the sheets and are most readily recognized. by the performer, no matter whether or not such symbols are those already accopted among musicians, or whether or not they are newsymbols specially devised for the special conditions existing with reference to note sheets and easily trans latable into musical or other meanings.

It is -to be considered also that the expression or dynamic line now generally used,

"rolls, there is room somewhere in the width of the paper for extra perforations, especially 1f suclr perforations are not designed -'to track with perforations in a tracker bar.

And practically every perforating machine either isalready equipped or can readily be equipped with such extra punches as will cut a perforated expression line and other perforated .ymbols as part of the original single operation of perforating the roll.

Accordingly Italic for my dynamic or expression line a plurality of perforations following one another successively and formin astraight line which traverses the notesh'eet throughout the perforated portion thereof-and parallel to the sides thereof. I use for such'line circular perforations of a larger size than the perforations which occur in the body of the note sheet and which operate the automatic player, in order that such'line may be more readily followed, although perforations of any desired shape or size maybe used. And I select as a convenient location for such line a portion of the space on the right edge of the note sheet, between the perforations correspond ing 'to the highest note of the piano scale and the edge of the paper, although any other desired location on the note sheet may be used.

In deciding upon the manner in which such line so composed of a plurality of per forations shall be used and shall indicate its meaning to the performer, I fix upon the relative propinquity of the perforations in such line to one another as indicating the relative degrees of loudness or softness to be observed. That is to say, where the perforations in such line are closest together the music is to be played loudest, and where such perforations are farthest apart the music is to be played softest. As the perforations come gradually closer together the music is to be played gradually louder, and as the perforations go gradually farther apart the music is to be played gradually softer.

I fix upon a distance of two inches between perforations in such =line as indicating the smallest dynamic degree, or pianissimo, and a distance of one-eighth of an inch between perforations in such line as indicating the greatest dynamic degree, or fortissimo. Perforations one inch and a half apart will. indicate piano, perforations one inch apart will indicate mezzo-forte, and perforations one-half inch apart will indicate forte. Further subdivisions of distance between perforations will indicate further subdivisions of dynamic degree. Any other desired distances between perforations may be adopted and given any desired dynamic values.

Crescendos and diminuendos are indicated by gradually diminishing or gradually increasingdistances between perforations in such'line, and. the crescendos and diminuendos ma Y be made more or less gradual by a more or less gradual change in distances between perforations.

For expression indications other than the dynamic line I employsquare perforations,

as such perforations can readily be made on the perforating machines now in use, by

the employn'icnt of a square punch. As a foration representing a tempo of 50 to 60 as commonly indicated, two square perforations in close proximity to oneanother representing a tempo of to 80, and three square perforations in close proximity to one another representing a tempo of 90 to 100. But as many symbols may be used as desired, representing as many tempos as desired, or representing any desired number of expression indications or directions as to the performance of the music or the operation of the sheet. And any other symbols capable of perforation may be adopted and used.

The drawing shows a portion of a note sheet 011 which appears an illustrative embodiment of my invention. An arrow indicates the assumed direction of travel of the note sheet.

The line of circular perforations at the right edge of the note sheet, beginning at 1, and continuing through 2, 3, 4:, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to 10, constitutes the dynamic or expression line.

The square perforations, Q, R R and S S S, at the right edge of the note sheet, form symbols constituting the tempo indications.

The transverse lines, m, m, 077?, m m m m m m and m", divide the note sheet into nine sections, according as the music represented by the note sheet is assumed for the purpose of illustration to demand varying dynamic treatment for each section.

For example, it is assumed for the purpose of illustration that the music cut into the note sheet represented in the drawing as between the lines on, m, demands that it be played fortissimo, or very loud. Accirdingly the dynamic line indicates fortissimo for the section m, m; that is to say the dynamic line begins at 1 to be made up of perforations of an inch apart on full scale, the degree of propinquity fixed as indicating the greatest dynamic degree, and it so continues throughout the section m, m, until the music demands a different dynamic degree, at 2.

It is assumed that the music begins at the line 111/ to demand that it be played forte, or loud. Accordingly the dynamic line begins at 2 to be made up of perforations lof an inch apart on full scale, the degree of proquinity fixed as indicating forte, and it so continues throughout the section m, m, to 3.

The music within the section m m is assumed to demand that it be played mezzoforte, or moderately loud, and accordingly the dynamic line from 3 to 4 is made up of perforations one inch apart on full scale, the degree of propinquity fixed as i11- dicating mezzo-forte.

The music within the section m m is assumed to demand that it be played piano, or soft, and accordingly the dynamic line from 4 to 5 is made up of perforations one and inches apart on full scale, the degree of propinquity fixed as indicating piano.

The music within the section m m is assumed to demand that it be played pianissimo, or very soft, and accordingly the dynamic line from 5 to 6 is made up of perforations two inches apart on full scale, the degree of propiquinity fixed as indicating pianissimo.

The music within the section m m is r are of an inch apart on full scale, the degree of propiquinity fixed as indicating fortissimo.

The music within the section m, m, is assumed to demand that it be played fortissimo, and the dynamic line from 7 to 8 indicates fortissimt, as hereinbefore explained.

The music within the section m m is assumed to demand that it begin at m to make a diminuendo, that is, to be played gradually softer, and so continue until it reaches pianissimo just before m Accordingly the dynamic line begins at 8 to increase gradually the distances between the perforations of which it is composed, until just before 9 they are two inches apart on full scale, the degree of prop inquity fixed as indicating pianissimo.

The music within the section m m is assumed to demand that it be played fortissimo, and the dynamic line from 9 to 10 indicates fortissimo, as hereinbefore explained.

It is assumed for the purpose of illustration that the music out into the note sheet represented in the drawing as between the lines m, m, demands that it be played at a tempo of 50 to 60 as shown on the familiar tempo indicator. Accordingly the single square perforation Q, placed a short dis tance in advance of the line m, indicates, as heretofore explained, a tempo of 50 to 60, which continues to be the indicated tempo throughout the sections m m The music within the sections m m is assumed to demand that it be played at a tempo of 7 0 to 80, andaccordingly the two square perforations, R R, in close proximity to each other, and placed a short distance in advance of the line m, indicate, as heretofore explained, a tempo of 7 0 to 80, which continues to be the indicated tempo throughout the sections m m The music Within the sections m m is assumed to demand that it be played at a tempo of 90 to 100, and accordingly the three square perforations, S S S, in close proximity to one another, and placed a short distance in advance of the line m indicate, as heretofore explained, a tempo of 90 to 100, which continues to be the indicated tempo throughout the section m m v It is to be understood that the illustrated grouped upon such sheet, or differently interrelated, and the invention may be variously embodied otherwise, all within the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In a perforated note sheet, a plurality of perforations which perform no automatic or mechanical function in the operation of a playing machine, but are designed solely to be seen and followed by the eye, which perforations are located in some position on the note sheet not required for the production of the music, and where they may be readily observed and follow one another successively, forming a straight and continuous line which traverses the note sheet parallel to the sides thereof, said continuous line constituting-an expression or dynamic line which indicates to the observer the dynamic conditions and changes appropriate to the music or to the operation of such sheet by means of the relative degrees and changes of degree of propinquity to one another of the perforations of which such line is made up, according to-an. arbitrary symbolism by which a certain assumed degree of propinquity indicates a certain dynamic degree, and another assumed degree of propinquity indicates another dyof perforations which perform no automatic or mechanical function in the operation of a playing machine, but are designed solely to be seen and followed by the eye, and are located in some position on the note sheet not required for the production of the music,

where they may be readily observed, and which by their size and shape, and by their location and arrangement upon the note sheet, and by their combination and grouping-and their degree of propinquity with re spect to one another upon such sheet, constitute symbols, recognizable as such by the eye, and capable of receiving, embodying and representing separate and differentiated definitions, meanings, interpretations and instructions incident to the performance of the music and the operation of the sheet, and of transmitting the sameto the observer.

3. In a perforated note-sheet, a plurality of perforations which perform no automatic or mechanical function of a playing machine but are designed solely to be seen and followed by the eye, and are located in some position on the note sheet not required for the production of the music where they may bereadily observed, said perforations being spaced with their degree of propinquity depending upon the dynamic degree with which the instrument should play the music from the note sheet.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK HOPKINS.

Witnesses M. 'h/IUSBAUM, FRANK ECKERT.

Copies of-this patent: may beobtained for five'cents each, by addressing the (lommissioneriofi Patents, Washington. I). C. 

